Grape plant named ‘Arrafourteen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Grapevine, designated ‘Arrafourteen’, characterized by strong vegetation, on own root and when grafted, red berry color with very uniform coverage and color, somewhat smaller bunches, and very juicy berries with pleasant taste and aroma.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to South African PBR Registration Application No. VL 2005/6339, filed Apr. 29, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification/cultivar denomination: Vitis sp. cultivar Arrafourteen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Grapevine, botanically known as Vitis sp., and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Arrafourteen’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Arrafourteen’ was discovered as a red fruit mutation amount the parent ‘Prime 125’ seedless cultivar.

It has been asexually reproduced at Nancy Farms in Paarl, South Africa, by budwood vegetative propagation. Observations made on ‘Arrafourteen’ since 2001 have shown that the unique features of this new Grapevine are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The new variety differs from other cultivars known to the inventor, including its parents, in the following traits, which have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique and stable characteristics of ‘Arrafourteen’:

-   -   1. Strong vegetation variety, on own root and when grafted;     -   2. Produces small bunches compared to parent Prime Seedless;     -   3. Berry color is red, in comparison with the green of the Prime         Seedless;     -   4. Ripening time is 2-3 days later compared to the green Prime         Seedless;     -   5. Midseason variety, ripening in the last half of June.

These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Arrafourteen’ as a new and distinct Grapevine cultivar. All observations were made from four year old specimens grown in Paarl, South Africa, from 2001 till 2005.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens of four year old specimens of the new variety, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description below, which accurately describes the colors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 comprises leaves, stems and grapes of ‘Arrafourteen’.

FIG. 2 comprises a close-up of a bunch of ‘Arrafourteen’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of Grapevine, the following is a detailed description of ‘Arrafourteen’ with color description where indicated by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where common terms of color definition are employed.

The new variety of Grapevine as herein described may vary in slight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under which the variety may be grown, the present description being of four year old specimens of the variety as grown from its own root at Paarl, South Africa, between 2001 and January of 2005.

-   Plant characteristic:     -   -   Form.—Upright with canopy of four feet on either side of the             trunk, vines of 157 cm to 197 cm in width perpendicular to a             row.         -   Growth.—Low vigor, particularly weak during flowering. -   Vegetative characteristics:     -   -   Trunk.—Size — medium developed for age, ranges from 46 mm to             88 mm. Surface texture — rough. Color — Greyed Green near             group 197.         -   Canes.—Form of growing tip — half opened. Cross-sectional             form — circular to slightly eliptical. Thickness — small to             medium from 8 mm to 17 mm diameter average. Surface texture             — relatively smooth with occasional ribbing. Length —             slightly less than average with an average joint frequency             of 60 mm to 160 mm. Shoot color — Yellow Green Group near             153A, intermixed with bands of Orange-Red near group 34.             Form of tendrils — predominantly trifid, with occasional             bifid. Distribution of tendrils — discontinuous. Length of             tendrils — average length 11.5 cm to 18 cm.         -   Shoot.—Young Shoot: Form of tip: half open. Anthocyanin             coloration of tip: medium. Density of prostrate hairs on             tip: very sparse. Density of erect hairs on tip: very             sparse. Color: green 146-D strips greyed orange 175-B.             Shoot: Attitude (habit): semi-erect. Color of dorsal side of             internode (well illuminated); green 146-D strips greyed             orange 175-B. Color of ventral side of node internode             (without direct sunlight): green 146-D strips greyed orange             175-B. Color of dorsal side of node (well-illuminated):             green 146-D strips greyed orange 175-B. Color of ventral             side of node (without direct sunlight): green 146-D strips             greyed orange 175-B. Density of erect hairs on node: sparse.             Erect hairs on internode: present. Density of prostrate             hairs on internode: absent. Number of consecutive tendrils:             three or more. Length of tendril: long. Woody Shoot:             Surface: edged. Main color: yellowish brown 2/orange 165-B             strips of orange 166C.         -   Leaf general.—Form — generally pentagonal. Shape of blade —             kidney shape with five lobes. Marginal form — broadly             serrate. Length of leaf — average mature leaf ranges from             115 to 152 mm as measured from petiolar junction to apex of             central lobe. Width of leaf — average width 56 mm to 94 mm.             Surface texture — relatively smooth. Top color — Green Group             near 143A. Bottom color — Yellow-Green Group near 145A.             Stick color — Yellow-Green Group near 152A. Anthocyanin             coloration on main veins on upper side of blade (Recorded on             leaves above the cluster at the medium third of shoot) —             Yellow-Green Group near 144C. Profile (cross-section at the             middle of the leaf blade) — flat. Lobe apices form — acute.             Shape of teeth (Recorded on the lateral lobe) — Both sides             convex. Length of teeth: largest range from 2 to 4 mm. Ratio             length/width of teeth — Medium. Thickness vein — average.             General shape of petiole sinus (Degree of the opening of the             petiole sinus) — distinctly “V” shaped with lobes             overlapping with no particularities of petiole sinus. Tooth             of petiole sinus — both sides convex and medium in length.             Length of petiole to middle vein — equal. Length petiole —             average length 78 mm to 109 mm. Thickness petiole — varies             from 2 to 3 mm. Stipules — absent. Young Leaf: Color of             upper surface (recorded on the first 4 distal unfolded             leaves): yellow green 144B. Density of prostrate hairs             between veins (recorded on the lower surface of the 4th             distal unfolded leaf): very sparse. Density of erect hairs             between veins (recorded on the lower surface of the 4th             distal unfolded leaf): very sparse. Density of prostrate             hairs on main veins (recorded on the lower surface of the             4th distal unfolded leaf): very sparse. Density of erect             hairs on main veins (recorded on the lower surface of the             4th distal unfolded leaf): very sparse. Mature Leaf: Size of             blaze (recorded on mature leaves above the cluster within             the medium third of shoot): medium. Shape of blade: wedge             shaped. Number of lobe: three. Anthocyanin coloration on             main veins on upper side of blade (recorded on leaves above             cluster at the medium third of shoot): medium green 144A.             Profile (cross-section at the middle of the leaf blade):             V-shaped. Blistering of blade upper surface: absent. Shape             of teeth (recorded on lateral lobe): both sides straight.             Length of teeth: short. Ratio length/width of teeth: small.             General shape of petiole sinus (degree of the opening of the             petiole sinus): half open. Tooth of petiole sinus: absent.             Petiole sinus limited by veins: absent. Shape of upper             lateral sinus (degree of the opening of the upper lateral             sinus). A sinus is defined as a clear interruption of teeth             on the leaf margin. The upper lateral sinus is located             between the middle vein and next lateral main vein: closed.             Depth of upper lateral sinus: shallow. Density of prostrate             hairs between veins (recorded on the lower side of blade):             sparse. Density of erect hairs between veins (recorded on             the lower side of blade): sparse. Density of prostate hairs             on main veins (recorded on the lower side of blade): sparse.             Density of erect hairs on main veins (recorded on the lower             side of blade): sparse. Density of prostate hairs on main             veins (recorded on the upper surface of the blade): present.             Length of petiole compared to middle vein: slightly longer. -   Inflorescence and fruit:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Sex of flower hermaphroditic medium length.         -   Flower.—Form — cluster of small to medium size. Location —             first floral cluster occurs from third to sixth joint.             Length — bloom ranges from 30 mm to 35 mm from base of             peduncle to tendril and from 18 to 30 mm from tendril to             first rachis branch. Floral cluster length — ranges from 11             to 18.5 cm without peduncle. Floral cluster width — ranges             from 6 to 12 cm. Stamens form — upright. Anthers size —             average. Pollen quantity — abundant. Calyptra — separates             completely from base of flower.         -   Bunch.—Size (without peduncle) — medium, length ranges from             14 to 22.8 cm, width ranges from 10 to 15 cm. Density —             medium. Length of peduncle — medium, average length 18 to 44             mm, thickness 2.5 to 4.5 mm. Shape — conical. Number of             berries — approximately 70 to 110 berries per bunch. Color             of peduncle — Yellow-Green Group near 144C.         -   Berry.—Size — medium diameter ranges from 18 to 24 mm,             length ranges from 19 to 24 mm. Shape — obtuse. Presence of             seed — absent. Skin color — light-dependent, recorded on             berries which are exposed directly to sun, greyed red 179 A.             Anthocyanin coloration of flesh: slightly colored. Skin             texture — medium thick skin. Weight — 10 berries, about             47 g. Firmness of flesh (Weight necessary for cracking the             berries) — medium. Juiciness of flesh — very slightly juicy.             Aroma — special, pleasant. Particular flavor — none. Pedicel             size — length ranges from 4 to 11 mm, thickness ranges from             1.5 to 2.8 mm at mid pedicel. Ease of detachment from             pedicel — difficult. Seed length: short. Transversal ridges             on sides: absent.         -   Plant descriptors.—All information below based on growing             the variety in the South Africa.         -   Time of bud burst (only varieties for fruit             production).—Early. In the first week of November.         -   Inflorescence.—Cluster of small to medium size, 1.1 to 2.         -   Time of berry ripening (veraison).—Medium, early January.         -   Bunch length (without peduncle).—Intermediate, length ranges             from 14 to 22.8 cm.         -   Berry thickness of skin (thickness of epidermis plus             hypodermis).—Medium thick.         -   Pedicle length.—Intermediate.         -   Visibility of hilum.—Unclear.         -   Physiological stage of full maturity of the berry (maximum             sugar content of the berry).—Late.         -   Growth of auxiliary shoots.—Strong.         -   Shoot.—Length of internodes: medium.         -   Percentage of berry set.—Medium.         -   Single bunch weight.—High.         -   Single berry weight.—High.         -   Bunch weight.—High.         -   Sugar content of must (%).—High.         -   Total acid content of must.—Very low.         -   Market use information.—Fresh table grape, high quality             seedless for fresh consumption, shipping quality of the             fruit is very good both in storage and transportation stem             retains turgidity for extended period.         -   Resistance/susceptibility to disease and pest.—No difference             from other Vitis Venifera varieties. -   Comparison to flame seedless: Prime seedless is a popular green     grape in the USA. It is early, crunchy and pleasant to eat.     -   -   Prime seedless is different from the new variety by the             following.—‘Arrafourteen’ ripening time is two to three days             later than Prime seedless; ‘Arrafourteen’ has a smaller             bunch size than green Prime seedless; and ‘Arrafourteen’ has             a uniform red color fully covered from early stages of             ripening, while Prime seedless are green. 

1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine, botanically known as Vitis sp., identified as ‘Arrafourteen’, substantially as shown and described herein. 